SOUTHEND 5
Just in the interests of balance, I still find it odd that an entirely new series of flights are launched and there is no public comment/announcement about what the operator plans to use on the routes - it's a completely different position to 'normal procedures' described above.
Also, what happened to all the recruitment earlier, has that been that been deferred as well - if the summer is going to be ACMI, are they no long needed or dry/damp lease?
Also, what happened to all the recruitment earlier, has that been that been deferred as well - if the summer is going to be ACMI, are they no long needed or dry/damp lease?
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Just in the interests of balance, I still find it odd that an entirely new series of flights are launched and there is no public comment/announcement about what the operator plans to use on the routes - it's a completely different position to 'normal procedures' described above.
Do you think it matters to Mrs Jones in South Woodham Ferrers whether it's an ATR72, a BAe146, an Embraer 175 or an Embraer 195, do you think Mrs Jones knows what any of these are and/or if she cares what any of these are, all she's interested in is going on her holiday and who's going to look after her cat whilst she's away!
Funnily enough a few days ago travellers we being lambasted for not doing adequate research before setting off...
Lets put it another way, would you employ a builder who you thought didn't have the skills or equipment to do the job?
I thought the whole point of this exercise was to establish the credibility of SEN, so I would have thought that transparency and clarity would be a priority.
Lets put it another way, would you employ a builder who you thought didn't have the skills or equipment to do the job?
I thought the whole point of this exercise was to establish the credibility of SEN, so I would have thought that transparency and clarity would be a priority.
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Funnily enough a few days ago travellers we being lambasted for not doing adequate research before setting off.
would you employ a builder who you thought didn't have the skills or equipment to do the job
I thought the whole point of this exercise was to establish the credibility of SEN
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I wonder if the Jet2 base up the road will have had some effect on some of winter sun routes from Southend this winter? How many seats to the sun can Essex really support? There will be some losers in this game and I fear this is the first.
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I thought the whole point of this exercise was to establish the credibility of SEN
You made a poor choice of words I suggest. Better to say that the whole point of the exercise is to demonstrate that SEN can support more than just sun routes and Amsterdam by launching a large number of new routes throughout Europe.
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I believe there are restrictions that make operating the A320 to the Canaries a non-starter in the summer, however EZY have been happily operating during the winter to TFS for a few years now, so any restrictions that may exist are unlikely to be a factor in their decision to drop LPA.
When the Canaries routes from SEN were started it was reported that the maximum numbers of seats for sale would be restricted to 170 to Tenerife (10 unsold) and 175 to Lanzarote. Gran Canaria is almost the same distance from SEN as TFS so the same commercial considerations would presumably apply. The passenger numbers for the route suggest the customer uptake was below expectations and that would have been the reason why the route has been dropped.
The figures above were for the 180-seat A320. It would be interesting to know how it would compare in its more recent 186 seat configuration.
The figures above were for the 180-seat A320. It would be interesting to know how it would compare in its more recent 186 seat configuration.
Funnily enough a few days ago travellers we being lambasted for not doing adequate research before setting off.
That was totally different, that was about some individuals who expected something for nothing and went in to print when they didn't receive it.
That was totally different, that was about some individuals who expected something for nothing and went in to print when they didn't receive it.
would you employ a builder who you thought didn't have the skills or equipment to do the job
Is it being suggested that Stobart Air don't have the skills and/or equipment to do the job, that either they don't have their own AOC with airworthy aircraft and professionally qualified staff and/or they are not capable of picking up a telephone to an ACMI operator to operate their services upon their behalf?
Is it being suggested that Stobart Air don't have the skills and/or equipment to do the job, that either they don't have their own AOC with airworthy aircraft and professionally qualified staff and/or they are not capable of picking up a telephone to an ACMI operator to operate their services upon their behalf?
I thought the whole point of this exercise was to establish the credibility of SEN
Well that's the first time I've heard SEN's credibility being questioned, that Southend Airport shouldn't be believed and/or trusted!
Well that's the first time I've heard SEN's credibility being questioned, that Southend Airport shouldn't be believed and/or trusted!
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No it isn't - but if it is all sorted, why they aren't telling anybody about it? So you'd be happy to give them the money and assume it'd be alright on the night? Can't think of another significant, planned operation for this summer out of the UK where the aircraft and operator isn't yet available - how long before flights start - 5 weeks?
Similarly if they haven't already got the aircraft type on their fleet, they haven't already leased or bought them, perhaps they're waiting to establish if and what demand there may be for these routes before deciding what aircraft type to lease or buy.
Can't think of another significant, planned operation for this summer out of the UK
wait to realise if we've sold 30 seats, 70 seats, 150 seats, whatever and then I'd sub-charter in an appropriately sized aircraft whether it be an ERJ145, a B737 or whatever.
there's a whole world out there beyond the shores of England, Scotland, Wales & Essex!
)Clearly I need to think more deeply on these points - I'll ponder while I'm waiting for the SEN flight in the departure lounge at Carlisle....
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If we keep waiting Harry 1st May is only six weeks away and still no sign of the type of aircraft to be used so not too much time to get organised I.e. flight plans, handling etc. I'm afraid it smacks of being amateurish but my opinion of Stobart Air is well known on this forum. Should stick to logistics which they do very well.
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If we keep waiting Harry 1st May is only six weeks away and still no sign of the type of aircraft to be used so not too much time to get organised I.e. flight plans, handling etc.
Back in the day, for exercise 'Avon Express' in/out of Fairford, for three days solid we had a movement every 10 minutes and for a 12 hour shift at a time, in Brize Norton Ops, I would be hand writing a flight plan every 10 minutes and when I got ahead of myself I might have even had a cup of coffee.
A flight plan takes 5 minutes!
On to Handling:
Southend Airport ... "Can you handle us please?" ... "Yeah Sure" ... "Oh by the way, not that it's important, but what aircraft type are you?"
Back in another day I worked for Air UK in STN, that day I was acting Operations Duty Officer whilst the Operations Controller (who I was training) went for his 90 minute lunch break, as he left for lunch all was quiet.
By the time he returned all hell had broken loose, in 90 minutes I had sub-chartered in six different aircraft and operators, I had a Captain answering the telephones, it was chaos, Operations Controller just burst out laughing that my blood vessels were protruding from my head etc., we laughed about it for many a year thereafter.
So if it takes 5 minutes to file a flight plan, 15 minutes to sub-charter in an aircraft, with six weeks to go at which point should we start panicking to satisfy the spotter fraternity?
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So everything is going very well and it is just a normal day in the office?
The answer is "It's none of his goddam business"!
Oh, back to the good old days before we had internet and forums, life was so much easier with nobody criticizing every move we make.